2:57President Donald Trump engages in a roundtable discussion on rural health at the White House in Washington, January 16, 2026.Alex Brandon/AP
On Friday, President Donald Trump indicated that he is contemplating the implementation of tariffs on nations that do not endorse his initiatives to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
"I might impose a tariff on countries that do not support us regarding Greenland, as it is vital for national security," Trump stated during an unrelated event focused on rural health care at the White House.
His remarks raise numerous questions about the implications for recent U.S. trade agreements established with European allies, especially those involving the United Kingdom and the European Union.
President Donald Trump engages in a roundtable discussion on rural health at the White House in Washington, January 16, 2026.Alex Brandon/AP
Trump’s tariff warning follows objections from European countries regarding his repeated assertions about taking control of Greenland, whether through purchase or military action.
To demonstrate support for Greenland, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that a contingent of French troops was present there to engage in military exercises alongside Danish forces and those from other NATO nations, including Germany, Norway, and Sweden.
Macron’s declaration came one day after key officials from Greenland and Denmark, who met with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the White House, stated that "fundamental disagreements" persist with the Trump administration on the issue.
"It is evident that the president harbors ambitions of taking control over Greenland," Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen informed reporters after the gathering. Rasmussen deemed this outcome "entirely unacceptable."
Members of the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, arrive at Nuuk Airport, January 16, 2026, in Nuuk, Greenland.Sean Gallup/Getty Images
In the meantime, a bipartisan assembly of House members and senators on Friday praised "productive" discussions with members of Denmark’s parliament during a delegation visit to Copenhagen.
The group — which featured Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, Democratic Sen. Peter Welch, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, Democratic Rep. Sarah Jacobs, Democratic Rep. Steny Hoyer, among others — stated that the visit aimed to strengthen the relationship between Denmark, Greenland, and the United States and to reassure NATO allies that many congressional members oppose any attempts by the United States to acquire Greenland.
"I think it is essential to acknowledge that regarding our relationships with friends and allies, as we have here in Denmark and in Greenland, it is — it is not a matter of Republicans versus Democrats. It is a recognition, once more, of a robust and enduring relationship over many years," Murkowski remarked.
Senator Lisa Murkowski addresses reporters following a meeting between members of the Danish Parliament and a Greenlandic committee with American Congress members at the Danish Parliament in Copenhagen, Denmark, January 16, 2026.Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Coons, who led the delegation, stated that the trip was intended for members of Congress to "listen with respect" to NATO allies and to return to the United States "to share those viewpoints so that we can ease tensions".
"There is much rhetoric, but not much reality in the ongoing discussions in Washington," Coons commented.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com